The University of Zambia
Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Sciences
MAT2901: INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY
Tutorial Sheet 2 February, 2026
1. A manufacturer of airplane parts knows from experience that the probability is
0.80 that an order will be ready for shipment on time, and it is 0.72 that an order
will be ready for shipment on time and will also be delivered on time. What is the
probability that such an order will be delivered on time given that it was ready for
shipment on time?
2. If we randomly pick two television set in succession from a shipment of 240
television sets of which 15 are defective, what is the probability that they will
both be defective?
1 1
3. Two events A and B are such that P(A) = , P(A | B) = and
4 2
2
P(B | A) = .
3
(a) Are A and B independent events?
(b) Find P(A B).
(c) Are A and B mutually exclusive events?
(d) Find P(B)
(e) Find P(A B)
2 1
4. Events A and B are such that P(A) = and P(B) = .
5 4
(a) If A and B are independent events, find
(i) P(A B) (ii) P(A B) (iii) P(A B)
(b) If A and B are mutually exclusive, find
(i) P(A B) (ii) P(A B)
4 1 5
5. Events A and B are such that P(A) = , P(A B) = , P(A | B) = .
7 3 14
Find;
(a) P(A B) (b) P(B) (c) P(B | A)
6. A box contains 4 black, 6 white and 2 red balls. Balls are picked out of the box
without replacement. Find the probability that;
(a) the first ball picked is black and the second one is white.
(b) the second ball picked is white.
(c) the first ball picked is black, the second is white and the third is red.
(d) the first three balls picked are of different colours.
7. The members of a consulting firm rent cars from three rental agencies. 60 percent
from agency 1, 30 percent from agency2, and 10 percent from agency 3. If 9
percent of the cars from agency 1 need an oil change, 20 percent of the cars from
agency 2 need oil change, and 6 percent of the cars from agency 3 need an oil
1
change, what is the probability that a rental car delivered to the firm will need an
oil change?
8. A rare but serious disease, D, has been found in 0.01 percent of a certain
population. A test has been developed that will be positive, “p”, for 98 percent of
those who have the disease and be positive for only 3 percent of those who do not
have the disease. Find the probability that a person tested as positive does not
have the disease.
9. A random sample of 200 adults are classified below according to sex and the
level of education attained.
Education Male Female
Primary 38 45
Secondary 28 50
College 22 17
If a person is picked at random from the group, find the probability that the person
is;
(a) a female
(b) a male, given that the person has secondary education.
(c) not a college graduate, given that the person is a female.
10. A large industrial firm uses 3 local motels to provide overnight accommodations
for its clients. From past experience it is known that 20% of the clients are
assigned rooms at the Ramada Inn, 50% at the Sheraton, and 30% at the Lakeview
Lodge. If the plumbing is faulty in 5% of the rooms at the Ramada Inn, in 4% of
the rooms at Sheraton, and in 8% of the rooms at the Lakeview Lodge, what is the
probability that;
(a) a client will be assigned a room with faulty plumbing?
(b) a person with a room having faulty plumbing was assigned
accommodation at the Lakeview Lodge?
11. The probability distribution of a random variable X is given by;
x 0 1 2 3
2 2 2
P(X = x ) c c c +c 3c + 2c
Find,
(a) the value of the constant c. (b) E(X) and Var (X).
(c) the cumulative distribution function of X and give its sketch.
(d) P(X 2) (e) P(0 X 2)
12. A continuous r.v. X has p.d.f. f(x) = k(x + 2)2 , 0 x 2. Find;
(a) the value of the constant k. (b) the mean and standard deviation of X.
(c) the c.d.f. of X. (d) P( X 1)
(e) P 1 X 3
2 2
13. A continuous r.v. X has p.d.f.
2
kx 0x1
k 1x3
f( x)
k( 4 x) 3 x 4
0 otherwise
Find ,
(a) the value of the constant k. (b) E(X) and Var (X)
(c) the c.d.f. of X (d) P( X > 2)
1 7
(e) P X
2 2
14. The c.d.f. of a continuous r.v. X is given by
0 x0
1 x 1 x2 0x1
2 8
1
F( x) a x 1x2
4
1 2 1
b 8 x 4 x 2 x 3
1 x 3
Find the;
(a) values of a and b. (b) p.d.f. of X.
5
(c) mean and standard deviation of X. (d) P( 1 X )
2